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Montana

Majestic Montana Attractions, From National Parks To American Indian And Cowboy Culture

Author John Steinbeck called Montana “a great splash of grandeur”. We’ll go even better. The “Big Sky State” is heavenly in every sense of the word -- with vast stretches of blue skies, fluffy clouds, and mountains that seem to go on forever. With two amazing national parks and dynamic Montana attractions, this is the perfect place to create memories and rejuvenate your soul. Explore Glacier National Park, a brilliant sanctuary boasting more than a million acres of pristine forests, awesome mountains, wildlife both large and small, and spectacular, mirror-like lakes. Experience the steaming hot springs, shooting geysers, roaring waterfalls and herds of iconic wildlife found in and around Yellowstone National Park, the World’s first national park. Learn about American Indian culture
from one of Montana’s 12 tribes, or learn the ways of the West while vacationing on a guest ranch. Or take the ultimate road trip along the Montana Scenic Loop
… a 400-mile route showcasing striking mountain vistas, placid trout streams, and abundant wildlife
. Be careful, though. Spend enough time with us and you might never want to leave! For more information, view our list of Montana tourist attractions below or visit www.visitmt.com
.

There are a significant number of special places in the National Forests in Montana and Idaho that have been designated by Congress just waiting for you to explore: Visit our special U.S. Forest Service page
to learn more.

Glacier National Park
– Called the “Crown of the Continent”. Home to the Going to the Sun Road, it boasts more than 700 miles of maintained trails, sparkling lakes, alpine glaciers, deep forests and wildlife large and small. www.nps.gov/glac

Polebridge
– At the heart of the Flathead’s “North Fork” just a mile from Glacier Park’s northwest entrance, the unique community of Polebridge offers no traffic lights, no crowds, no electricity, no hassles. There is the Polebridge Mercantile, Northern Lights Saloon, a variety of rental cabins, and a host of great characters and events to enjoy throughout the year. 406-888-5105, polebridgemerc@gmail.com

Flathead Lake
– At nearly 200 square miles and surrounded by six state parks, Flathead is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Perfect for boating, fishing, and waterskiing. (406) 752-5501; www.fwp.mt.gov/parks

Flathead National Wild and Scenic River
– One of America’s longest wild and scenic river systems, encompassing more than 215 miles across breathtaking backcountry. Rafting, kayaking, and fishing are all available. (406) 758-5200; www.fs.fed.us/r1/flathead

Kalispell
– the Flathead Valley’s “hub” city, Kalispell features a vibrant downtown historic district, the Conrad Mansion, Hockaday Museum of Art, Central School Museum and a great selection of restaurants, lodging and shopping opportunities. http://fcvb.org/

Whitefish
– Home to Whitefish Lake and Whitefish Mountain Resort, this is a thriving performing and visual arts community with plenty of opportunities to enjoy great food, lodging, and shopping. www.explorewhitefish.com/index.php

Eureka
– Just 7 miles south of Canada, Eureka is the host community for Lake Koocanusa, Tobacco Valley Historical Village, Ten Lakes Scenic Area, an annual quilt show, Rendezvous Days, and many other community events. www.welcome2eureka.com/

Ten Lakes Scenic Area
– East of Eureka in the Whitefish Mountain Range just below Canada and above the Tobacco Valley, the Ten Lakes Basin was carved by glaciers leaving alpine mountain lakes sheltered by high, rim-rocked basins connected today by 89 miles of hiking trails. www.fs.fed.us/r1/kootenai/

Browning
– Blackfeet Nation headquarters offering the Museum of the Plains Indian, North American Indian Days (2nd weekend in July), Blackfeet Heritage Center & Art Gallery, Lodgepole Gallery and Tipi Village, and the Blackfeet Cultural History Tours. http://blackfeetcountry.com

Izaak Walton Inn
– A historic railroad hotel reputed as one of the best cross country ski resorts in the Rockies. An excellent all-season base camp for visiting Glacier Park and other northwest Montana attractions. http://www.izaakwaltoninn.com

Two Medicine Dinosaur Center
(Bynum) – Home to North America’s first fossilized dinosaur embryos, along with the world’s longest skeletal model display of the largest dinosaur – a Seismosaurus. A wide variety of field dig opportunities offered. www.tmdinosaur.org

Choteau
– This Rocky Mountain Front community is a gateway to the Bob Marshall Wilderness and other national forest recreation, birdwatching at Freezeout Lake, and the area’s historical record of dinosaurs, American Indian and ranching culture displayed at the Old Trail Museum. www.montanascenicloop.com/communities/choteau.php

West Yellowstone
– West entrance to Yellowstone National Park offers many attractions of its own to complete your Yellowstone experience. www.westyellowstonechamber.com/

Beartooth All-American Road
– Witness the rare transition of lush forest ecosystem to alpine tundra in just a few miles on the highest elevation road in the Northern Rockies, and access the northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Bozeman
– Cut loose just 90 minutes from Yellowstone, in the vibrant city of Bozeman. Enjoy the Museum of the Rockies and its exceptional dinosaur reconstructions. Experience the colorful art scene, packed with galleries, exhibits, and performances. (406) 586-5421; www.bozemancvb.com

Cooke City, Silver Gate and Colter Pass
– These three Beartooth All-American Road communities greet visitors to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park with unique charm, lodging, foods, services, and access to spectacular “Top of the World” landscapes. www.cookecitychamber.org

Red Lodge
– A gateway community on the Beartooth All-American Road. Its historic downtown welcomes you with food, fun, lodging, and great shopping. Red Lodge Mountain Resort is here as well. www.redlodge.com

Billings
– Montana’s largest city serves as a “trailhead to southern Montana and northern Wyoming,” offering everything needed in the way of arts, culture, dining, recreation, lodging, services, and more. http://billingscvb.visitmt.com/

Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
– Experience the world of grizzly bears and gray wolves. All the animals in the center are no longer to survive in the wild and serve as ambassadors for their species. (406) 646-7001; www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org

Big Hole National Battlefield
-- Big Hole National Battlefield is part of Nez Perce National Historical Park. It has 38 sites spanning four states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington), touching on many of the threads that make up the Nez Perce story. (406) 689-3155; www.nps.gov/biho/

Bear Paw Battlefield
-- The battlefield commemorates the final conflict of the Nez Perce War and Flight of 1877. Following the breakout of war in Idaho, nearly 800 Nez Perce spent a long and arduous summer fleeing U.S. Army troops. Forty miles short of the Canadian border and following a five-day battle and siege, the Nez Perce ceased fighting on October 5th, 1877. (406) 357-3130; www.nps.gov/nepe/planyourvisit/bear-paw-battlefield.htm

Travelers' Rest State Park
-- Travelers' Rest State Park marks the location of a centuries-old Native American campsite that Lewis and Clark's used in 1805 and 1806. This National Historic Landmark, located just 8 miles south of Missoula, is the only archeologically verified campsite of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the nation. (406) 273-4253; fwp.mt.gov/lands/site_2233810.aspx

Virginia City and Nevada City
(Montana) – Born with an 1863 gold rush, Virginia City has served as Montana’s territorial capitol, a venue for colorful law-abiding and lawless activities. Nearby Nevada City remains a historic treasure telling a great Montana story. http://virginiacitymt.com/

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center
-- Built into a scenic bluff overlooking the Missouri River, the center's exhibits and ranger programs bring to life the indomitable spirit of the Lewis and Clark journey and the Plains and Northwest Indian People who already lived here. http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic

Chief Plenty Coups State Park
– Log home and store of the last chief of the Crow Nation are preserved here along with a park museum, gift shop, and numerous events celebrating Crow culture. http://fwp.mt.gov/parks

Pompeys Pillar
– One of America’s most famous sandstone buttes. It bears the only remaining physical evidence of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, appearing on the trail today as it did 200 years ago. On the face of the 150-foot butte, Captain William Clark carved his name on July 25, 1806, during his return to the United States through the Yellowstone Valley. www.pompeyspillar.org/

Little Bighorn Battlefield
– Memorializes one of the last armed efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their way of life. In 1876, 263 soldiers and attached personnel of the U.S. Army, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer, met death at the hands of several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. (406) 638-2621; www.nps.gov/libi

Crow Fair
(3rd weekend in Aug) – The largest gathering of the year for the Apsáalooke Nation -- considered the largest modern-day American Indian encampment in the United States. www.crow-fair.com/

Livingston
-- The original northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park, Livingston’s Main Street and historic districts feature many buildings from the 1880s and 1890s that now offer vibrant shops, restaurants, art galleries, and entertainment venues. www.livingston-chamber.com/

National Forests in Montana --
There are nine National Forests in Montana encompassing acres of wild lands, wild rivers, where there is unlimited opportunity to explore historic sites, camp in primitive campgrounds, or fish in alpine lakes. Much of the spectacular scenery along the Top 10 drives are protected within the National Forests of the Northern Rockies. To find out more about the National Forests in Montana, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/
and select one of the following Forests: Beaverhead-Deerlodage National Forest; Bitterroot National Forest, Custer National Forest; Flathead National Forest; Gallatin National Forest; Helena National Forest; Kootenai National Forest; Lewis and Clark National Forest; and the Lolo National Forest.

An Awe-Inspiring Variety Of Montana Tourist Attractions And Sights

Reach extraordinary new heights of travel. Use the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies to experience truly unforgettable Montana attractions.

The Top 10 Scenic Drives is a public-nonprofit collaborative effort between state, federal, tribal, and local partners in five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.Project administrator: Yellowstone Business Partnership. This website funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration.